Di Morton is looking forward to her first Christmas at home in three years, after spending 331 days of 2025 in hospital.
The 51-year-old says it is fantastic to be able to spend the festive season with her family and has nothing but praise for the team of occupational therapists and physiotherapists who have transformed her life over almost a year at the Glenfield Hospital.
“A year ago, I was carrying an extra six stones in fluid, I couldn’t walk, feed myself or take care of myself, it was awful. I had infection after infection, had to have part of my right foot amputated. But now I’m more mobile than when I went in. The occupational therapists and physios, especially Paul, Emily, Jill and Jane have been phenomenal, the best people in the world, they have saved my life,” said Di, who has Type-1 Diabetes, which affected her kidneys, meaning she now has dialysis three times a week.
“Even before I was discharged, my family were called in to say their goodbyes because I became unresponsive, my sister slept by my bedside for a week, so I am so grateful to be here now. It’s so easy to forget how bad you were before.”
In 2024, Di spent 215 days in hospital, mostly at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, across seven periods of admission, but it was when her kidneys started failing that she was sent to the renal ward at Glenfield.
“The team at the Glenfield have become like my family after spending so much time with them this year. But they’ve kept me motivated, they made me believe I could do it, and that gave me the willpower to keep going even when it was really hard,” she added. “But I can’t wait to spend Christmas Day with my family in our pyjamas, sharing presents and having a hot buffet. It’s been hard on my Mum, who is an absolute star, and my son River (15) who has had to grow up fast but just goes with the flow. But the renal therapy team at the Glenfield have a very special place in my heart. Thank you will never be enough.”
The team behind Di’s rehabilitation have praised her positive attitude. Paul Moorhouse, Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, said: “I don’t think many people understand just how much she has been through, and it’s amazing that she has managed to keep so much motivation. She has a very stoic attitude in the face of so many knockbacks over the years, but she just keeps on going.”
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, Emily Hardy, added: “Di has become very special to lots of us who have worked with her. Our job has been easy really because she has been so cheerful and motivated despite everything. Her discharge was challenging, in terms of easing her transition into being home after such a long time in hospital, but we’ve worked with her to help her manage that because we know people recover better at home, once they’re able to do so.”